Pomona II: Capps/Johnson eliminations summary

Skoal Racing Teammates Finish Eighth, Ninth in NHRA Standings

POMONA, Calif., Nov. 9, 2003 - The 2003 NHRA racing season came to a close a little earlier than Ron Capps and Tommy Johnson Jr. would've preferred during the Auto Club Finals Sunday at Pomona Raceway.

The drivers of Don Prudhomme's Skoal Racing Funny Cars experienced traction problems in their first-round races and lost, Capps to Gary Scelzi and Johnson to Cory Lee. Capps finished eighth in POWERade Series standings with 1105 points, followed by Johnson in ninth with 1051 points.

"The (tire) shake came back," said Johnson of his Blue Camaro, "and I had to pedal it. I had no idea it would do that. We haven't had the shake for several races. It's very frustrating.

"I am ready to start testing for next year right now."

Johnson, the No. 8 qualifier (4.862 at 314.02), had a respectable 4.925-second time at 314.97 mph, considering he was on and off the throttle, but Lee covered the quarter-mile in 4.822 at 316.82 mph.

"We had a tough time, too," echoed Capps after his Green Camaro lost to Scelzi, 4.817 at 323.66 mph to an early shutoff 8.607 at 95.17 mph. "Todd (Okuhara, crew chief) was really searching to find a gremlin. He made a whole lot of changes but the car just wasn't responding. We knew Scelzi would run a low 4.70 or high 4.80, but our car shook and I pedaled it. By then, he was pulling away so I shut it off.

"We are excited about 2004," concluded Capps, who began the day from the 13th position. "I can't wait to get it started."

Their next race is the 2004 Winternationals, Feb. 19-22, at Pomona Raceway.